The only previous study of movements of _T. ornata_ is that of Fitch
(1958:99-101). He recovered 14 marked _T. ornata_ at the Reservation a
total of 30 times, the period between recaptures varying from one to
seven years. He reported that the average radius of home range was 274
feet (for an area of approximately 5.4 acres), excluding a single
(presumably gravid) female that moved 1830 feet in 53 days.
Although published information on _T. ornata_ is scant, a considerable
amount of information is available concerning its congener, _T.
carolina_. The classic studies of Stickel (1950) on it constitute the
most complete account of populations and movements for any reptile or
amphibian, and probably, for any vertebrate. She found the average
home range of adults to be 350 feet in diameter. Home ranges were not
defended as territories and nearly all individuals were socially
tolerant of one another. Movements (studied by means of a
thread-trailing device) were characterized by frequent travel over the
same routes within the home range. Some turtles concentrated their
activities in only one part of the home range, moving subsequently to
another part, and some turtles had two ranges between which they
traveled at varying intervals. Females ordinarily left their home
ranges to nest.
Other noteworthy, but less detailed, studies of populations of _T.
Carolina_ are those of Breder (1927) who found evidence of home range
and homing behavior, and of Nichols (1939b) who, after observing a
marked population on Long Island over a period of twenty years, found
evidence of homing behavior and estimated normal home range to be
approximately 250 yards in diameter. Numerous shorter papers such as
those of Schneck (1886) and Medsger (1919) document the tendency of
_T. carolina_ to remain in restricted areas over long periods.
Important studies that indicate the presence of home range and homing
behavior in other chelonians are those of Cagle (1944) on _Pseudemys
scripta_ and _Chrysemys picta_, and of Woodbury and Hardy (1948) on
_Gopherus agassizi_. Grant (1936) and Bogert (1937) have also
indicated that movements of individuals of _Gopherus agassizi_ are
restricted to limited areas.